I liked this year's draft. For the first time in many years we were aggressive and traded up. We addressed to major need. Chandler Jones aka pass rush and LB aka Hightower. These 2 players has made an in packed from day one and improved our defense a lot.

I would like to see us addressing more talent at defense next April, because I think we got plenty of playmakers on offence. Brady, Gronk, Hernandez, Riley, Lloyd (Maybe Welker) + solid and young O-Line.

I think we're pretty much in agreement Antoin. :) My priority list right now would be:

1. Interior OL
2. LDE
3. WR
4. Safety
5. Offensive tackle

Obviosuly it looks like we in the bottom of the first come april, so players that I like who look like they're going in that range would be:
Bjoern Werner (a slight reach)
Marquess Wilson
Robert Woods (maybe)

Chance Warmack and Barrett Jones are my early personal favorites, but I think they'll be long gone when we're making our first pick unfortunately. :(

How would everyone rate the team needs now?
The above is still mostly accurate IMO with the exception of CB, either being added to or supplanting safety. I'm not sure though what position would be the priority targets for Rd 1 and 2. Seems we draft DBs every year to no avail, but given our needs I think I'd prefer to go FA for WR (and/or resign Welker/Edelman) to take that position off the draft boards - and once again draft a DB early (this even if signing Talib, which I think should be a priority.)

Anyone else want Jelani Jenkins in NE to play coverage backer? His stock is going to be really low because of injuries and whatnot. I personally think he can cover really well and he could be used on special teams as well.

__________________
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How would everyone rate the team needs now?
The above is still mostly accurate IMO with the exception of CB, either being added to or supplanting safety. I'm not sure though what position would be the priority targets for Rd 1 and 2. Seems we draft DBs every year to no avail, but given our needs I think I'd prefer to go FA for WR (and/or resign Welker/Edelman) to take that position off the draft boards - and once again draft a DB early (this even if signing Talib, which I think should be a priority.)

Interior DL seems pretty strong with Deaderick and Love playing the second NT role next to Wilfork. That said, John Jenkins or Jesse Williams would be amazing fits.

They always take a DB or two, but I don't see it as a need this year. I've really liked how this group has developed. Keeping Talib will be key for the Pats. He really completes that unit. That said, there are some really talented DBs at the top of the draft.

More competition at DE would be nice. Looks like a deep class for it, too. A guy I'd like to see them draft as someone who could play Nink's role and just be a really valuable and versatile player is Kiko Alonso. He's really stood out in every game I've watched him in. He's a boss.

WR is always a topic of conversation, especially with the injuries they went through this past season.

I just really like the team they have, and don't see many holes - providing the young players keep getting incrementally better as they've shown they are capable of doing. The Pats will literally be in a position to draft the very best player available. I also think this is a good draft for them to take another stab at QB. Lots of unrefined talent...perfect for a team like the Pats who aren't relying on any QB they draft to amount to anything.

I think our needs is
DT - need an upgrade to Deadrick who can stuff and pressure
WR - Obvious that Branch is done, Edleman needs to prove a 16 game season though he seem to develop into a much bigger role than anyone expeted. That leaves just Brandon Lloyd with Welker a FA.
DB - Won't know until FA, I expect Chung to depart and Talib is essential I would franchise him over Welker imo. Can't count on Dowling so anything from him is extra, so we could go S, CB or both.
LB - Coverage LB, someone with speed to replace White and play mostly in nickel situations. Not sure what happens with Spikes with FA
OL - Depends on what happens to Volmer in FA, if leaves OT would be a need, a C/OG combo player is needed as Connoly's concussion problems worry me longterm with his availability.

WR - I think is deep
1st round
-Cordarrelle Patterson - won't have a chiance to get him unless we trade up
-Keenan Allen - Have a shot to get him, good downfield receiver
-DeAndre Hopkins - Will have a shot to get him great after the catch, really like him, a little raw
-Justin Hunter - Has the look and make-up to be a top 10 pick but struggles with drops
-Tavon Austin - Percy Harvin light
2nd-3rd round
-Robert Woods - reminds me of a Jabar Gaffney but smaller
-Terrance Williams - Tall vertical threat
-Da'Rick Rogers - red flagged, could be a top 15 pick if head was on right
-Quinton Patton - great hands, good routes
-Denard Robinson - Former Michigan QB
-Stedman Bailey
-Aaron Dobson
-Markus Wheaton
-Marquess Wilson - Another very talented WR kicked off team
4th, 5th round
-Kenny Stills
-Aaron Mellette
-Ryan Swope - Eric Decker Light
-Cobi Hamilton - My Sleeper
-Joyce Boyce
-Theo Riddick - Tavon Austin Light
-Chris Harper
-Marcus Davis - Looks like a TO type, struggled with drops, sleeper
-Rodney Smith - Sleeper pick, if played on vertical offense could be a 2nd rounder
-Duron Carter - Chris Carters son has his fathers attitude

DT - need more pressure up the middle im base defense
-Star Lotulelei - wont get him
-Sheldon Richardson - Won't last
-Jonathan Hankins - Could fall, new Ohio St connection
-John Jenkins - Can Penetrate, but bad stanima
-Jessee Williams - Doesn't offer much penetration
-Sharrif Floyd - Played DE last year, played DT this year verstaile, a fav of mine
-Sylvester Williams - Can take over games when his head is in the game
-Bennie Logan - Another versatile 3-tech pass rusher
-Kawaan Short - loads of tackle for losses, great value for deep DT class

LB - need a nickel LB
-Kaseem Green - former S makes plays sideline to sideline, can cover TE's and RB's
-Kevin Minter/Arthur Brown - smaller faster MLB's better in coverage
-Jelani Jenkins - Might be best cover LB in draf6t and could be had for a 3rd or 4th because he doesn't take on blockers and had injury plagued year.
-DeVonte Holloman/Kenny Tate - Former safities now LB's who can play ST and have better coverage abilites than LB currently on the team.

S - Would love to upgrade Gregory, not sure Wilson is starter or sub package, deeper than most years
1st round
-Kenny Vaccaro - top S, can cover and play run
-Matt Elam - Aggressive not sure if he is Ed Reed or Brandon Meriweather, I really like him though
2nd, 3rd round
-Eric Reid - Athletic and hard hitter in run game, struggles in coverage
-Shawn Williams - A big safety but a leader and playmaker, struggles in coverage
-Phillip Thomas - Emerged as a big playmaker coming off of a missed season
-Tony Jefferson - A true centerfielder
-DJ Swearinger - Reminds me of TJ Ward, very hard hitter and playmaker
-Shamarko Thomas
- TJ McDonald - don't like him, bad angles, doesn't wrap up
- Bacarri Rambo - Has to answer speed questions
- Robert Lester - Good at the line or zone, struggles in man coverage

Great list RWills
I'm hoping they sign Armstead who they brought in for a workout and also scouted last year. He can play DE or DT. If they do, then WR (Patterson or Hopkins) or S (Elam) with the first pick, depending on who is available. Looks to me like there is more value for CB in rd 2. I wouldn't be against Cooper there either. Maybe Hunt or Green, although a first round for a cover LB seems too early. Much depends on FA though. Trading down and getting an extra 3 or a one or two next year also works.

If they're looking at safeties, Eric Reid will be #1 on Belichick's board.

They're deep enough at DT and run enough sub packages to not have to worry about John Jenkins's gas tank. He'll have time to improve that. He's probably not the sexy pick (maybe he is), but that's who I most want them to draft. I'm happy with their current group of DT's, but I worry if something ever happens to Wilfork.

I've given up on them drafting a WR, but I'd love Stedman Bailey on this team.

They aren't losing anything along the DL. They need the backup DEs to step it up next season. It'd be nice to upgrade DT, but they love Deaderick and Love and can bring Ron Brace back if they need to.

LB
Hightower
Mayo
Spikes
Rivera
+Fletcher

Special teamers Koutouvides and White are UFAs. Could be brought back easily. Not much that can be done for LB in the draft with so few resources available to them.

DB
McCourty (S)
Gregory (S)
Dennard (CB)
Wilson
Dowling
Ebner

The secondary has looked really good with Talib. They absolutely have to re-sign him. He should be their #1 priority this off-season. It's probably time to let Chung go and probably Arrington as well if he doesn't come super cheap. They absolutely need to draft a CB and it'd be nice if they could find a way to draft a S as well.

So, having broken down the roster, my previous desire for a big physical DT is outweighed by the needs of this team combined with the lack of draft picks.

The team has to re-sign its own players. Absolutely have to bring back Woodhead, Welker, Edelman, Vollmer, and Talib. If they do that, they're left with CB, S, and WR as the primary targets for their first 3 draft picks. CB probably being the highest priority even with Talib since their depth is weak and you can't trust Dowling to ever get/stay healthy.

The lack of draft choices shows we're really going to need to trade down if at all possible to pick up some extra picks. The Mallett rumors are interesting - Mallett and our 1 to Cleveland for their 1st, which I can't see happening - but maybe something can be done there given the weak crop of QB's this year.

Anyway, since we can't cover TEs or RBs and still struggle on third down, I'd rank a cover LB or some sort of safety/LB hybrid as pretty high on the need list, along with speed at the WR position. We can also improve our pass rush, but it's hard to find that where we are picking. So yeah, I essentially agree with your three positions there nepg.

The lack of draft choices shows we're really going to need to trade down if at all possible to pick up some extra picks. The Mallett rumors are interesting - Mallett and our 1 to Cleveland for their 1st, which I can't see happening - but maybe something can be done there given the weak crop of QB's this year.

Anyway, since we can't cover TEs or RBs and still struggle on third down, I'd rank a cover LB or some sort of safety/LB hybrid as pretty high on the need list, along with speed at the WR position. We can also improve our pass rush, but it's hard to find that where we are picking. So yeah, I essentially agree with your three positions there nepg.

They might have that guy in either a healthy Fletcher or an expanded role for Ebner.

That's good news. DE / DL depth with potential to be a starter is always nice without having to spend the draft capital.

I'm on board the 'resign Talib' train. It definitely looks like the type of year where we need to keep all of our FA talent. I think the priorities have to be Kyle Arrington, Julian Edelman, Dane Fletcher, Michael Hoomanawanui, Aqib Talib, and Sebastian Vollmer. (Not in that order.)

Welker would be nice but I'm not expecting it to happen. As I mentioned in the team thread, I think the market will be soft but all it takes is one team backing up the Brinks Truck and he's gone. Amendola and Welker may just swap teams this offseason . . .

As always, I want to see us draft true pass rush help. DL and off the edges. Safety is next in line (though I do like what I saw from Tavon so I could see that position being filled if he progresses well through the offseason.) WR is clearly a big need. Welker is likely gone. Edelman is fragile. Branch and Stallworth are has-beens. I still like Lloyd.

Today's fun list: WRs and DBs drafted by BB during his tenure in NE. "x" preceding a name denotes 5th round or later. Bolded are guys that have been decent or better for us (and I'm being generous.) Here's hoping he just drafts whichever guys he believes should NOT be on the board this year. It can't be much worse. lol

Today's fun list: WRs and DBs drafted by BB during his tenure in NE. "x" preceding a name denotes 5th round or later. Bolded are guys that have been decent or better for us (and I'm being generous.) Here's hoping he just drafts whichever guys he believes should NOT be on the board this year. It can't be much worse. lol